How to slow down the aging process

This is definitely the oldest trick in the book, and it’s dirt cheap!

Did you know premature ageing is mostly caused by extrinsic factors – the greatest being sun exposure? Extrinsic factors are factors such as sun exposure, alcohol, smoking, stress, sleep deprivation, etc. that speed up the natural ageing process.

I cannot stress enough that during your teenage years and 20’s, the most effective anti-aging serum you can buy is sunscreen. Forget all the high-end supercharged serums, because without protection from the sun, the aging process is going to speed up anyway. 

TIP #1: Make sure your sunscreen is broad-spectrum – this means it will protect you from both UVA and UVB – both harmful to your skin and can increase the risk of skin cancer.

TIP #2: Make sure your sunscreen is at least SPF 30+. I personally use SPF 50+. This just means that only 1/50 of UVB rays actually reach my skin. The less the better I say! 😛

TIP #3: If you’re wearing it in summer, make sure it’s water (AKA sweat) resistant. If it isn’t, don’t forget to reapply! It’s a bummer, and this is the hardest thing for me, but it’s easier if I don’t have face makeup on. Otherwise, I will just stay out of the sun as much as I can. 🙂

TIP #4: If you have sensitive or problematic skin, make sure you do a patch test on a small part of your arm. Sunscreen may contain strange chemicals, alcohols, fragrances or preservatives that our skin isn’t used to, and may cause irritation or a reaction. Choose a sunscreen specifically formulated for the face, is non-comedogenic, for sensitive skin or is dermatologist tested.

Recommended products: 

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Lotion 50+ (This is what I use!)
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist 30+ (This is what my sister uses on her body! Personally, I find that a spray can get a bit messy, but she loves it because it’s super quick, easy and thin.)
• La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid

Disclaimer: The images used are not my own.